Matt and Sarah Menefee’s Village at Quarterpath Home on the market in Williamsburg VA this week.

From their home overlooking the village green, Matt and Sarah Menefee can enjoy a peaceful view of the square’s lush lawn and manicured greenery, get together with neighbors at the gazebo, or simply walk across the street to play there with their 2-year-old daughter. “It’s such an appealing place,” said Sarah. “There are kids and dogs, and yesterday we watched people there playing ball.”

That charming village green is just one of the features that drew the Menefees to the Village at Quarterpath four years ago. The couple had decided to move from their Williamsburg condo in order to shorten the commute for Matt, who works in Hampton Roads. “With 64 East so close, the location at Quarterpath was stellar for Matt,” said Sarah. “And it turned out to be a great commute for me, too.”

Came To Rent; Decided To Buy. Sarah and Matt hadn’t planned on buying a home at Quarterpath, though.

“We actually came to look for a rental, but after we met the builder, we realized it made sense for us to buy instead,” Sarah said. The couple decided on new construction, a 2-story, brick-faced duplex home that would be built across from the green.

Going Grand. The 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home the Menefees chose followed the style of the Quarterpath’s York model, but with a larger footprint. “We were one of the first ‘York Grand’ models,” explained Sarah. “It’s 3 to 4 feet wider, so it really opened up the inside more. When people come in, they always remark on how open it is, how it looks so much bigger than you’d think.”
The home’s main floor is open concept, but with four distinct areas. “We set it up as a play area, the kitchen, the dining area, and the living room,” Sarah noted. “I like that everything is open. I can be cooking in the kitchen while watching my daughter in her play kitchen. Plus, it works very well when we’re having pot luck with friends.”
The kitchen features tall, dark wood cabinets, stainless appliances, a breakfast bar, and an island. The living room includes a gas fireplace, one of the elements the couple added in designing their home. “We love that feature,” Sarah noted. “It’s so nice and cozy, and we can see it from the dining area or the living room couch.” The main level, which has hardwood floors, also has a half bath, an entry closet, and a laundry area that opens to the attached garage.

The second floor has three bedrooms plus a bonus space at the top of the stairs that the Menefees use as a small play area for their daughter. “I love that space,” said Sarah. “It makes the second floor feel more spacious.” The second level has upgraded carpeting.

The couple’s daughter was born after they moved into Quarterpath, and Sarah recalls the excitement of getting her room ready. “We put in chair rail molding, and painted her bedroom yellow on top and green on the bottom, with an animal theme on the walls,” said Sarah. “The bedroom gave us enough space for a rocker, a crib, a toy box, and even a comfy chair.”

The master bedroom includes one of Sarah’s favorite features: Jack and Jill walk-in closets. “My closet is so big it could almost be a bedroom,” she noted. “It has built-ins and a chandelier.” The master bathroom has a couples-friendly double vanity and toilet closet.

Maintenance-free Outdoor Living. The couple added more living space when they hand-built a backyard brick patio that is accessed from their dining area. “We have a grill and a fire pit there,” Sarah said, noting that the back yard, which has lawn and flower beds, is partially fenced. “We eat outside and love to just sit around and enjoy the fire.”

The family also has movie nights on the patio. “We hang a sheet on the patio door and use a projector to show movies outside.”

Sarah noted that one great thing about the yard is that they don’t have to do much to keep it looking good. “Our HOA fees include maintenance of our individual yards,” she explained.

Walkable and Friendly Neighborhood. The Menefees often make the short walk across the green to nearby Quarterpath Park and Quarterpath Rec Center, where there are sports fields, tennis courts, a pool, and a playground.

“It’s a perfect walk with our daughter,” Sarah said. “And it’s great that our HOA doesn’t have to pay for a playground.”

“We are also close to the back of Colonial Williamsburg,” she noted. “From our house, we can walk to the Grand Illumination [a Colonial Williamsburg celebration that includes fireworks] held there in December.”

“This neighborhood is just great for families,” Sarah added. “It’s a cul-de-sac at the end of our street and there are always lots of kids riding bikes, parents pushing strollers, or people walking their dogs. It makes the street feel vibrant; it’s a good way to meet people.”

The Menefees have made the hard decision to move from their townhome to a single family house. “We will miss Quarterpath, and especially having the playground so close, being able to have picnics nearby,” Sarah said. To help find the next family to love their conveniently located, nearly new (4-years-old) Quarterpath home, the Menefees have turned to Williamsburg real estate agent John Womeldorf. “I go way back with John,” Sarah noted. “He helped me buy my first condo.”

Why the stories? Because these aren’t just houses, they’re homes.

Mr. Williamsburg knows that when you’re looking for a new place, you’re searching for more than just four walls plus amenities, you’re looking for that welcoming refuge we call home. That’s why we go beyond the standard “4 bedrooms, 3 baths on large lot” statistics, to share how others have lived in this house, to reveal the home’s unique personality, to help you decide whether this is a place where your family could thrive.

Likewise, we realize that you’re seeking not simply a development within a particular zip code, but also an opportunity to become part of a community. That’s why we share our sellers’ experiences as members of that neighborhood.

We trust these stories will assist you in finding your way home.

Want to tell your home’s story? Contact John “Mr. Williamsburg” Womeldorf at (757) 254-8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com and we’ll get you started.

About mrwilliamsburg

I love Williamsburg !
Being “Mr. Williamsburg” and starting my web site in 2004 has been a great way for me to help people looking for homes for sale, communities and an “insider knowledge.” of the area.
Turned out I was onto something. Because I offer in-depth information and up-to-the-minute blogging, even international clients have found me. One couple, moving back to the States from France, told me that a post I wrote blog about grocery shopping in Williamsburg convinced them that Williamsburg was the place to be, and that I was the best source by far that they found on the web.
I’m happy to say that I hear similar comments from many of my clients looking for homes throughout Williamsburg and Hampton Roads.
I grew up in Virginia Beach, Va, After attending college, I worked at a number of positions including manager of a land development and construction company and business manager of a cut flower business that we grew in sales from $300,000 to $15 million (we were supplier to Whole Foods and one of the first cut flower suppliers to Costco).
In 2004, it seemed like a good time to simplify my life. I moved my family from Annapolis to Williamsburg. I went into real estate with Liz Moore and Associates, and was one of the initial agents when Liz opened her Williamsburg branch.
My sons Zach and Josh attended Lafayette High School ,Hornsby Middle School and DJ Montague and are crazy about sports and the outdoors.
I feel lucky to be living the dream, and saving two to four hours by not driving on the DC beltway every day. So, I can now spend my time with friends family while concentrating on learning — and sharing — information about living in Williamsburg.
In real estate, no two people or transactions are the same. Everything’s a challenge, and I’m rewarded every time in close a transaction and have the opportunity to see the smiles on clients’ faces.
Please email or call me for assistance with any real estate questions about the area
John@MrWilliamsburg.com or 757 254 8136